The 140th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Thursday in Guangzhou, welcoming global buyers to the South China hub to mark the 70th anniversary of China's premier trade exhibition. 

Running through Oct 19, the opening phase centers on advanced manufacturing and industrial innovation. Spanning a massive 520,000 square meters, the exhibition features over 25,000 booths and brings together more than 12,000 participating companies.

The showcase is organized across 19 specialized areas, highlighting cutting-edge sectors such as consumer electronics, industrial automation, electric vehicles, and smart mobility.

Notably, the footprint emphasizes high-value manufacturing, with more than 11,000 of the participating enterprises classified as high-tech firms, specialized manufacturers, or industry leaders.

China Daily's Parker Zheng took the photos on the opening day.